3 Review(s)

The book, Happiness and Beyond: the Jain Way and Other Perspectives discusses various perspectives about happiness, unhappiness, popular myths, relationship between religion and happiness, role of positive psychologists before delving deeper into Buddhism and the cardinal principles of Jainism, such as anekantavāda (multi- sidedness), ahimsā (non-violence) and aparigraha (non-possessiveness), without being dogmatic about them. It traces happiness in deeper relation with ecology since all living beings, including plants and animals, are inter-connected. Social, economic and environmental wellbeing define gross global happiness. This book is meant for an average educated reader worldwide seeking happiness as one of the most cherished goals. It makes a novel attempt to explain not only the link between virtue ethics and happiness but it also makes the reader look beyond happiness. Though the pursuit of happiness can be beautiful, it should never become an obsession. One should find it in the journey and certainly not in the destination. Despite focusing on Buddhism, Jainism and positive psychologists, this book avoids being preachy, hasty or a quick-fix. Rather, it takes the reader on an interesting, jerky and untrodden terrain.